One of the most difficult things about growing plants and flowers is that they have specific requirements when it comes to the sun. Lack of sun is not usually a problem in Tennessee, where the sun is out on a regular basis, but maybe you don’t have a garden that is in direct sunlight, or maybe you live in an apartment that faces the opposite direction as the sun. A yard with a lot of trees will also cut down on the sunshine that makes its way to the plants, limiting your options in terms of landscape design. Luckily, we here at the Parke Company are specialists when it comes to designing landscapes, and a lack of sunlight is not going to stop us.
Plants that Thrive with Less Sunlight
Shady Plants
The easiest option is to plant flowers and bushes that do well in the shade. There are a lot of them available here in the Middle Tennessee area, and many of them add a dash of color to an otherwise dark area. In particular, something like coleus, a leafy annual that has a nice deep purple color surrounded by a light green tone, would do very well in these kinds of conditions, as would many types of ferns. Another popular idea is to plant certain types of bushes, such as the Ohio Buckeye, under trees, since the plants do not need a lot of sunlight and create a nice layered look against the taller trees. For those dwelling in apartments, bushes and smaller trees obviously are not really a feasible idea, so you probably want to look into growing something smaller, such as spearmint, catnip, or parsley.
Issues and Concerns
Even though these plants do well with the lack of sunlight, there are some other things that you need to look out for. For plants near trees, there could be a bit of a battle for the nutrients in the soil. If left unattended to, the smaller plants will wither and die. An easy way to get around this is to make sure you work in fertilizer and other nutrient-rich additives so that there is enough to go around for everyone. Mulching your leftover grass clippings or leaves is a particularly eco-friendly way to do this. Another concern is water, for the same reasons. Some shade-friendly plants are better suited to dealing with less water, while others are not, so make sure to check into the watering needs of everything you plant.
A lack of sunlight does not mean a lack of green in your world. With a proper amount of care and a nice design, like the kind of work we here at the Parke Company provide, and your yard can still be lively and growing, despite a lack of the usual key ingredient. Even if you live in an apartment, you can still have the life you want, so give us a call today and let us help you achieve your gardening dreams.